What do you think?
Rate this book
Feral
Dr. Emery Shaw enters the Exclusion Zone with a research team and a field notebook. He leaves the research team on day three.
He doesn't leave the creature.
Eight feet tall. Iridescent plates that shift between black and deep blue. Amber eyes that track him through the dark. Clawed hands that could crush his ribcage but instead learn — with devastating patience — exactly where to touch.
The creature doesn't speak. It growls. It vibrates at a frequency Emery can feel in his teeth. It pins him to the moss and covers him with its body and makes a sound that translates to MINE across every species barrier.
Emery is a conservation biologist. He catalogs things. He categorizes. He uses clinical language until the creature's mouth finds him in the dark and clinical language stops working. "Involuntary tumescence" becomes "please." "Physiological response" becomes "more." "Scientific objectivity" becomes the sound he makes when the knot swells and locks and the bioluminescent veins pulse blue-white beneath the plates and his body stops being his and starts being theirs.
The research team will come looking. They want to capture the creature. Emery has to the world that named him, or the den that claimed him.
[ FERAL is Book One of The Exclusion Zone. Book Two, LURE, takes a different man and a very different creature back inside the same fence line. It stands completely on its own, and you can start there if you'd rather]
FERAL is a dark monster romance with maximum explicit content, creative monster anatomy, knotting, size difference, possessive claiming, a fated bond. Reader discretion is strongly advised.
He doesn't leave the creature.
Eight feet tall. Iridescent plates that shift between black and deep blue. Amber eyes that track him through the dark. Clawed hands that could crush his ribcage but instead learn — with devastating patience — exactly where to touch.
The creature doesn't speak. It growls. It vibrates at a frequency Emery can feel in his teeth. It pins him to the moss and covers him with its body and makes a sound that translates to MINE across every species barrier.
Emery is a conservation biologist. He catalogs things. He categorizes. He uses clinical language until the creature's mouth finds him in the dark and clinical language stops working. "Involuntary tumescence" becomes "please." "Physiological response" becomes "more." "Scientific objectivity" becomes the sound he makes when the knot swells and locks and the bioluminescent veins pulse blue-white beneath the plates and his body stops being his and starts being theirs.
The research team will come looking. They want to capture the creature. Emery has to the world that named him, or the den that claimed him.
[ FERAL is Book One of The Exclusion Zone. Book Two, LURE, takes a different man and a very different creature back inside the same fence line. It stands completely on its own, and you can start there if you'd rather]
FERAL is a dark monster romance with maximum explicit content, creative monster anatomy, knotting, size difference, possessive claiming, a fated bond. Reader discretion is strongly advised.
235 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 25, 2026
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews
June 4, 2026
Not even gonna lie, I only added this to my tbr because of the piss/cum cover, but was pleasantly surprised to find it wasn’t bad
June 5, 2026
I believed the many positive reviews that said the story is much better than the terrible cover suggests. And it's true. I actually found the story really good. Besides all the spice, there was also a really nice love story in a beautiful setting. It was definitely something different.
August 7, 2026
Listen…we aren’t reading this book for the literature. The writing isn’t great, it’s repetitive, and they use Rhen’s name like 5 times before his name is actually revealed at like 45%…so that’s weird. Rhen is constantly referred to as “it”, instead of “him”, even when his name is revealed and used in the same sentence. He’s always an “it”, which is rude and annoying considering it’s a love story. But the smut is HOT, which is what we’re really here for, and the love story is actually really sweet. Rhen is a big, territorial, possessive, sweetheart of a monster and should be protected at all costs!
June 14, 2026
Ai not a real book or author.
June 23, 2026
I'm finishing it in an illegal way because I need those sweet sweet science things, but i also wanted to warn anyone that cares, this book and all the authors works seem to be AI made.
June 22, 2026
I came for the bioluminescent piss/cum and stayed for the warm fuzzies 🩷
So the cover...yup. love it. 5 stars. But it's definitely deceiving. This isn't the human x monster fuck fest I was expecting; it's so much more - it's beautiful and warm and comforting and soooo god damn cute.
I loved all the little narrative details and how the boys ended up communicating with each other.
It was slightly repetitive at times (hence the 4/5), but was otherwise a fab read 🤌
4/5 reading frenzy
4/5 characters
🌶️🌶️
Fated mates
Knotting 🫦
Warm fuzzies galore
So the cover...yup. love it. 5 stars. But it's definitely deceiving. This isn't the human x monster fuck fest I was expecting; it's so much more - it's beautiful and warm and comforting and soooo god damn cute.
I loved all the little narrative details and how the boys ended up communicating with each other.
It was slightly repetitive at times (hence the 4/5), but was otherwise a fab read 🤌
4/5 reading frenzy
4/5 characters
🌶️🌶️
Fated mates
Knotting 🫦
Warm fuzzies galore
August 26, 2026
Ooookay 😅
July 6, 2026
AI Book
I mean, it's so obviously AI.
This could've been really cool, Annihilation but smutty. Who wouldn't want that?
Let's ignore the fact the MC starts calling the monster by it's name long before he actually learns it, that it's so repetitive or every paragraph is written the same way; 'he way happy. Not in a simple way. Not in the way before. New. A new kind happiness.'
Jeeze, learn to mix it up. At least give your AI book a once edit over at the very least.
But it's so obviously AI because it's just cold, like a text book. And I'm not even talking about the scientific language, which I was here for, there is no feeling. We're told everything, because AI can't feel, so how can it describe it?
The cover made me curious, but the book is just bad.
I mean, it's so obviously AI.
This could've been really cool, Annihilation but smutty. Who wouldn't want that?
Let's ignore the fact the MC starts calling the monster by it's name long before he actually learns it, that it's so repetitive or every paragraph is written the same way; 'he way happy. Not in a simple way. Not in the way before. New. A new kind happiness.'
Jeeze, learn to mix it up. At least give your AI book a once edit over at the very least.
But it's so obviously AI because it's just cold, like a text book. And I'm not even talking about the scientific language, which I was here for, there is no feeling. We're told everything, because AI can't feel, so how can it describe it?
The cover made me curious, but the book is just bad.
April 30, 2026
Weird But Kind of Good
This book is exactly as wild as you think it’s going to be. Our human MMC, Emery is a scientist off to explore a mysterious corner of the world that has suddenly started to change and grow in a way no one has ever seen before. The second MMC Rhen is a creature in this new corner of the world and who seems to have been created along side all of the new flora and fauna. But they’re not human, they’re eight feet tall, covered in hard plates, and speak their own language made up of sounds and vibrations. And it’s made clear pretty quickly that they’re the “alpha” of the forest they live in.
Rhen and Emery find each other in the forest and what immediately begins between them is more like fated mates than anything else. They might not be able to speak but the physical attraction between them is immediate and Rhen especially seems to know that Emery is supposed to be his. The book explores their relationship through their growing bond and how Emery seems to be changing to evolve into something or someone more fitting to the forest and mate that he has found.
The book isn’t creepy or dramatic but it has a lot of interesting world building and wow a lot of spice. If you’re looking for a book with less plot than spice this is going to be perfect for you. The things that work against the book is the ongoing internal monologue that repeats itself constantly. Due to the MMCs not sharing a language there is barely any dialogue and we spend most of the time in Emery’s head where he repeats his thoughts and observations a million times. I found myself skimming some parts and I don’t think I missed much doing that.
The book can definitely be ridiculous and over the top in the spice but it was entertaining!
Tropes: Fated Mates, Single POV, Human/Creature Pairing, Size Difference
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️ 3/5
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ 5/5
Relationship: MM (at least with physiology but Rhen’s character is never specified with a pronoun)
This book is exactly as wild as you think it’s going to be. Our human MMC, Emery is a scientist off to explore a mysterious corner of the world that has suddenly started to change and grow in a way no one has ever seen before. The second MMC Rhen is a creature in this new corner of the world and who seems to have been created along side all of the new flora and fauna. But they’re not human, they’re eight feet tall, covered in hard plates, and speak their own language made up of sounds and vibrations. And it’s made clear pretty quickly that they’re the “alpha” of the forest they live in.
Rhen and Emery find each other in the forest and what immediately begins between them is more like fated mates than anything else. They might not be able to speak but the physical attraction between them is immediate and Rhen especially seems to know that Emery is supposed to be his. The book explores their relationship through their growing bond and how Emery seems to be changing to evolve into something or someone more fitting to the forest and mate that he has found.
The book isn’t creepy or dramatic but it has a lot of interesting world building and wow a lot of spice. If you’re looking for a book with less plot than spice this is going to be perfect for you. The things that work against the book is the ongoing internal monologue that repeats itself constantly. Due to the MMCs not sharing a language there is barely any dialogue and we spend most of the time in Emery’s head where he repeats his thoughts and observations a million times. I found myself skimming some parts and I don’t think I missed much doing that.
The book can definitely be ridiculous and over the top in the spice but it was entertaining!
Tropes: Fated Mates, Single POV, Human/Creature Pairing, Size Difference
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️ 3/5
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ 5/5
Relationship: MM (at least with physiology but Rhen’s character is never specified with a pronoun)
April 9, 2026
2.75
Don't be alarmed by the alien piss cover; it has nothing to do with the story.
I enjoyed the Annihilation x Pandora visuals the author created but this was in desperate need of an editor, or hell, even a proofreader. It reads like a second draft and there are wild inconsistencies throughout. Multiple times the creature is called by its name before said name was revealed, and I got distinct impression that the author originally wrote the creature to be much larger than the 8' it was described as. Also I don't care what kind of magic cock slobber a monster has, there is no way I can suspend my disbelief enough to accept that The scale between the couple needed more fleshing out. 🥁
With all that said, this type of monster romance is so very up my alley. I adored the creature's adoration and attentiveness, and the worldbuilding. With a good editor, this would be a solid 4 from me.
Don't be alarmed by the alien piss cover; it has nothing to do with the story.
I enjoyed the Annihilation x Pandora visuals the author created but this was in desperate need of an editor, or hell, even a proofreader. It reads like a second draft and there are wild inconsistencies throughout. Multiple times the creature is called by its name before said name was revealed, and I got distinct impression that the author originally wrote the creature to be much larger than the 8' it was described as. Also I don't care what kind of magic cock slobber a monster has, there is no way I can suspend my disbelief enough to accept that The scale between the couple needed more fleshing out. 🥁
With all that said, this type of monster romance is so very up my alley. I adored the creature's adoration and attentiveness, and the worldbuilding. With a good editor, this would be a solid 4 from me.
October 5, 2026
Erratic continuity (long review)
I liked this book a lot, but the continuity errors were really distracting. For instance, Emory’s initial description of the creature is that it weighs 350-400 kg. (That’s roughly 775-885 lbs, still—for as immense as it is supposed to be—less than a thoroughbred horse. With its size, muscle, and the armored plates, I would expect it to weigh more.) However, later, during the battle with another of its kind, “Rhen launches…*two hundred kilograms* of armored predator…,” effectively losing half its weight. Towards the end, Rhen outweighs Emory by 600 lbs, which does return to around the initial description, but Locke suddenly changes from kilograms to pounds.
Locke also refers to the “killing of the canid pack” more than once, but I think this must have been a scene that got scrapped. Since the book apparently wasn’t copy edited, references remained in the text. There is a scene where Rhen arrives back to the den injured and carrying a large canid corpse. That is the closest to a possible fight scene, because in earlier mentions of the canids, Locke says they steer clear of Rhen’s territory when they encounter its marks.
Rhen’s size and measurements of that size are erratic to the point that I really can’t picture it, other than that it is eight feet tall. That never changes. However, width of some of its body parts don’t line up with things like Emory’s assumed reach for a 5’10” adult male. For that matter, Rhen’s reach is inconsistent. Sometimes it can span from Emory’s spine to sternum with one hand, and other times its hand can hold Emory’s calf or thigh all the way around, both dimensions of which are smaller.
The amount of time that has passed before Rhen finds Emory is really unfathomable. The Bloom happened five years ago. That is established right at the beginning of the book and is confirmed a number of times. However, Rhen seems to have been alive for far longer. Near the end, Locke refers to Rhen as “the heart that sustained decades of solitude.” How are we supposed to resolve the time difference? Was the explanation also left on the cutting room floor?
Finally, Locke uses Rhen’s name at least seven times before Emory is supposed to use it, and we have no idea of where Emory came up with it. Locke starts using Rhen’s name at about 20% in, but it isn’t until about 50% of the way in, we get the scene: “I try it. Quietly. A low, rolling sound, starting in the back of my throat, rising through the palate: "Rrrrhhhn."
This book was begging for a copy editor, but at least it was proofread.
I could have done with fewer sex scenes because they got repetitive. I know there have been too many when I start skimming and not seeing anything. As far as monster sex goes, it was imaginative and sexy, but with the number of scenes where basically the same thing happened, it lost its punch.
Rhen and Emory are both great characters, and I appreciated how they communicated without words. The ability to parse emotions to the extent of conveying complex statements was a bit of a cop-out, IMHO, but on the other hand, the plot required it. Lure, the next book, handled communication more satisfactorily.
Also in Lure, Emory says that his eyes look like they do because Rhen’s eyes are its primary sense organ, yet this book is written so much in sound. The forest and Rhen are visually stunning, but the sounds of the forest and Rhen’s vocalizations are *at least* as important sensory experiences. Emory has better low light vision at the end and cool effects on his eyes (they glow and have teardrop-shaped pupils), but that’s it. His primary expanded senses are hearing and scent. (I guess developing saucer ears or a huge nose are just not as sexy.) However, this is a continuity-adjacent problem again, this time spanning two books. Lure is better (again IMHO), but Locke wrote herself into some corners with Feral and seems to hope that her audience won’t notice when they read the sequel.
Another reviewer brought up this issue: Emory uses “it” for Rhen’s pronoun. “It” is still primarily a pronoun for *things* that are lesser: inanimate objects, animals, people who are designated as worthless. “It” is a dehumanizing pronoun. I understand that Locke wants us to recognize that Rhen is aggressively not human, but I feel that a human who has fallen in love and has sex with a monster with male genitalia, would unconsciously start to use the he/his pronouns. (I’m not going into nonbinary or trans pronouns, so don’t troll me, please. The title says MM.) I actually had to proof my review because I was using he/his.
That’s all.
I liked this book a lot, but the continuity errors were really distracting. For instance, Emory’s initial description of the creature is that it weighs 350-400 kg. (That’s roughly 775-885 lbs, still—for as immense as it is supposed to be—less than a thoroughbred horse. With its size, muscle, and the armored plates, I would expect it to weigh more.) However, later, during the battle with another of its kind, “Rhen launches…*two hundred kilograms* of armored predator…,” effectively losing half its weight. Towards the end, Rhen outweighs Emory by 600 lbs, which does return to around the initial description, but Locke suddenly changes from kilograms to pounds.
Locke also refers to the “killing of the canid pack” more than once, but I think this must have been a scene that got scrapped. Since the book apparently wasn’t copy edited, references remained in the text. There is a scene where Rhen arrives back to the den injured and carrying a large canid corpse. That is the closest to a possible fight scene, because in earlier mentions of the canids, Locke says they steer clear of Rhen’s territory when they encounter its marks.
Rhen’s size and measurements of that size are erratic to the point that I really can’t picture it, other than that it is eight feet tall. That never changes. However, width of some of its body parts don’t line up with things like Emory’s assumed reach for a 5’10” adult male. For that matter, Rhen’s reach is inconsistent. Sometimes it can span from Emory’s spine to sternum with one hand, and other times its hand can hold Emory’s calf or thigh all the way around, both dimensions of which are smaller.
The amount of time that has passed before Rhen finds Emory is really unfathomable. The Bloom happened five years ago. That is established right at the beginning of the book and is confirmed a number of times. However, Rhen seems to have been alive for far longer. Near the end, Locke refers to Rhen as “the heart that sustained decades of solitude.” How are we supposed to resolve the time difference? Was the explanation also left on the cutting room floor?
Finally, Locke uses Rhen’s name at least seven times before Emory is supposed to use it, and we have no idea of where Emory came up with it. Locke starts using Rhen’s name at about 20% in, but it isn’t until about 50% of the way in, we get the scene: “I try it. Quietly. A low, rolling sound, starting in the back of my throat, rising through the palate: "Rrrrhhhn."
This book was begging for a copy editor, but at least it was proofread.
I could have done with fewer sex scenes because they got repetitive. I know there have been too many when I start skimming and not seeing anything. As far as monster sex goes, it was imaginative and sexy, but with the number of scenes where basically the same thing happened, it lost its punch.
Rhen and Emory are both great characters, and I appreciated how they communicated without words. The ability to parse emotions to the extent of conveying complex statements was a bit of a cop-out, IMHO, but on the other hand, the plot required it. Lure, the next book, handled communication more satisfactorily.
Also in Lure, Emory says that his eyes look like they do because Rhen’s eyes are its primary sense organ, yet this book is written so much in sound. The forest and Rhen are visually stunning, but the sounds of the forest and Rhen’s vocalizations are *at least* as important sensory experiences. Emory has better low light vision at the end and cool effects on his eyes (they glow and have teardrop-shaped pupils), but that’s it. His primary expanded senses are hearing and scent. (I guess developing saucer ears or a huge nose are just not as sexy.) However, this is a continuity-adjacent problem again, this time spanning two books. Lure is better (again IMHO), but Locke wrote herself into some corners with Feral and seems to hope that her audience won’t notice when they read the sequel.
Another reviewer brought up this issue: Emory uses “it” for Rhen’s pronoun. “It” is still primarily a pronoun for *things* that are lesser: inanimate objects, animals, people who are designated as worthless. “It” is a dehumanizing pronoun. I understand that Locke wants us to recognize that Rhen is aggressively not human, but I feel that a human who has fallen in love and has sex with a monster with male genitalia, would unconsciously start to use the he/his pronouns. (I’m not going into nonbinary or trans pronouns, so don’t troll me, please. The title says MM.) I actually had to proof my review because I was using he/his.
That’s all.
August 12, 2026
LISTEN I UNDERSTAND THE COVER IS INSANE, OK???? U KNOW I CANT RESIST THAT
3 stars if this isn't AI, ZERO FUCKING STARS IF IT IS
thoughts n feelings:
-I think I'm starting to get the hang of when books are probably AI, unfortunately. like idk if this is actually AI but it carries a LOT of the characteristics that I've seen in other books that people say are AI. here are the potentially-AI red flags this book has:
-->multiple books released in a short period (34 books in a few months????) and they all have essentially the same plot structure: scientist/biologist/explorer goes into deep nature such as cave/ocean/forest, meets monster(s), oh no he's hot, they all live sluttily ever after.
-->clearly AI-created cover
-->no goodreads author photo or bio (there's one on amazon but it's not very personal)
-->there's a specific writing style I associate with probably-AI and it's deeply repetitive (like down to the same words or phrases being reused verbatim), full of sentences that are alternately way too short and way too long, full of telling rather than showing because machines don't understand emotions, and full of the same scenes stacked on top of each other with slight variations.
-cool to have it/its pronouns rep although I DID catch it being called "he" a couple times which had me squintin
-there were zero italics used, which I don't care about at all, although when the author wanted to use italics they just all-caps shit which I've just discovered is a pet peeve of mine in books
-a fourteen inch dick that's so big around that your fingers don't touch???????????????? and so many times there's literally ZERO prep??????? like i don't care how much magical alien lube you have it's just not gonna WORK. did we not learn our lesson from mr hands??????
-so....you rescue a biologist from spending three weeks allegedly alone in the forest, and when he says he wants to stay and "continue his research" you just....let him??????????
TLDR: this shit was bizarre, repetitive, and probably written by AI. overall I GUESS I liked the story enough but because of the seemingly-likely AI allegations I can't ethically say I'm planning to consume anything else by this author.
3 stars if this isn't AI, ZERO FUCKING STARS IF IT IS
thoughts n feelings:
-I think I'm starting to get the hang of when books are probably AI, unfortunately. like idk if this is actually AI but it carries a LOT of the characteristics that I've seen in other books that people say are AI. here are the potentially-AI red flags this book has:
-->multiple books released in a short period (34 books in a few months????) and they all have essentially the same plot structure: scientist/biologist/explorer goes into deep nature such as cave/ocean/forest, meets monster(s), oh no he's hot, they all live sluttily ever after.
-->clearly AI-created cover
-->no goodreads author photo or bio (there's one on amazon but it's not very personal)
-->there's a specific writing style I associate with probably-AI and it's deeply repetitive (like down to the same words or phrases being reused verbatim), full of sentences that are alternately way too short and way too long, full of telling rather than showing because machines don't understand emotions, and full of the same scenes stacked on top of each other with slight variations.
-cool to have it/its pronouns rep although I DID catch it being called "he" a couple times which had me squintin
-there were zero italics used, which I don't care about at all, although when the author wanted to use italics they just all-caps shit which I've just discovered is a pet peeve of mine in books
-a fourteen inch dick that's so big around that your fingers don't touch???????????????? and so many times there's literally ZERO prep??????? like i don't care how much magical alien lube you have it's just not gonna WORK. did we not learn our lesson from mr hands??????
-so....you rescue a biologist from spending three weeks allegedly alone in the forest, and when he says he wants to stay and "continue his research" you just....let him??????????
TLDR: this shit was bizarre, repetitive, and probably written by AI. overall I GUESS I liked the story enough but because of the seemingly-likely AI allegations I can't ethically say I'm planning to consume anything else by this author.
June 14, 2026
I never thought a monster romance like this could exist. Honestly, I’m completely obsessed. Shocked, stunned, and absolutely hyper-fixated on this author!
This book is beautifully written. You can tell the author did their research on the biologist MMC because every detail feels authentic and carefully crafted. The way the relationship develops between him and the monster is perfection. Their bond grows so naturally, and by the end, we even get a flashback from the monster’s perspective as he recognizes his mate!
The way he cares for him, protects him, feeds him, and builds the most precious little nest for them? My heart didn’t stand a chance. The tenderness, devotion, and possessiveness are everything I want in a monster romance.
And the spicy scenes? Absolutely scorching. The chemistry is unreal, the tension is delicious, and the payoff is worth every second of anticipation.
At this point, even though I’m not a biologist, I’d happily volunteer for field research if it meant meeting a monster like that😂
An easy five stars. Highly, highly recommended for anyone who loves MM monster romance, devoted monsters, nesting, mating bonds, and a perfect mix of heart melting sweetness and toe curling heat.
This book is beautifully written. You can tell the author did their research on the biologist MMC because every detail feels authentic and carefully crafted. The way the relationship develops between him and the monster is perfection. Their bond grows so naturally, and by the end, we even get a flashback from the monster’s perspective as he recognizes his mate!
The way he cares for him, protects him, feeds him, and builds the most precious little nest for them? My heart didn’t stand a chance. The tenderness, devotion, and possessiveness are everything I want in a monster romance.
And the spicy scenes? Absolutely scorching. The chemistry is unreal, the tension is delicious, and the payoff is worth every second of anticipation.
At this point, even though I’m not a biologist, I’d happily volunteer for field research if it meant meeting a monster like that😂
An easy five stars. Highly, highly recommended for anyone who loves MM monster romance, devoted monsters, nesting, mating bonds, and a perfect mix of heart melting sweetness and toe curling heat.
November 1, 2026
The beginning was great. Interesting build up, detailed setting, and the crazy environment of the Zone. I love when Rhens and Emery first meet. It’s not violent or straight to kidnapping, but more of “you’re mine and I’ve been looking for you.”
Close to the middle is when things started to get repetitive.
Yes, we know Emery’s body is changing due to Rhens magic jizz, we know the crystal trees sing with the passing of each daylight cycle, we know you are no longer Emery the biologist with a half finished desertion and a leaky apartment you are now Emery the bonded mate to Rhen the creature of the Zone.
That doesn’t need to be repeated 10 times in different formats.
Also the spice level was definitely high 4/5 🌶️. Like almost every chapter had some sort of bonking scene or mention of it. I did love the fact that in the beginning their intimate moments were about exploration of their partner rather than a sexual need which I thought was super cute.
Regardless, the reason why I gave this book three stars is mainly due to the constant repetition and lack of plot climax at the end. I feel like the other could’ve done so much more with the main conflict.
Close to the middle is when things started to get repetitive.
Yes, we know Emery’s body is changing due to Rhens magic jizz, we know the crystal trees sing with the passing of each daylight cycle, we know you are no longer Emery the biologist with a half finished desertion and a leaky apartment you are now Emery the bonded mate to Rhen the creature of the Zone.
That doesn’t need to be repeated 10 times in different formats.
Also the spice level was definitely high 4/5 🌶️. Like almost every chapter had some sort of bonking scene or mention of it. I did love the fact that in the beginning their intimate moments were about exploration of their partner rather than a sexual need which I thought was super cute.
Regardless, the reason why I gave this book three stars is mainly due to the constant repetition and lack of plot climax at the end. I feel like the other could’ve done so much more with the main conflict.
October 1, 2026
This book is AI
However, I reluctantly gave it 3 stars. One was deducted automatically for being AI, which comes with all the hallmark repetition of phrases and information. The second was deducted because the AI consistently referred to the creature as "the creature" and "it", even after the MC learns his name (Rhen), enters into a consentual intimate relationship with him, falls in love with him, becomes his mate, and choosrs to leave the known world behind in favor of staying with him. Maybe it's my humanity showing, but I have a hard time picturing being in any kind of personal relationship with an "it" - that says to me that Emery didn't see Rhen as a real person, but then the actual narrative says otherwise.
I allowed it to keep 3 stars because the story really was very good. Rhen is an extremely sympathetic character, and the development of the relationship between Emery and Rhen was well plotted. The world the story was set in ( the Zone) sounded utterly fascinating.
Spice level: 🌶🌶🌶🌶🌶 out of 5
However, I reluctantly gave it 3 stars. One was deducted automatically for being AI, which comes with all the hallmark repetition of phrases and information. The second was deducted because the AI consistently referred to the creature as "the creature" and "it", even after the MC learns his name (Rhen), enters into a consentual intimate relationship with him, falls in love with him, becomes his mate, and choosrs to leave the known world behind in favor of staying with him. Maybe it's my humanity showing, but I have a hard time picturing being in any kind of personal relationship with an "it" - that says to me that Emery didn't see Rhen as a real person, but then the actual narrative says otherwise.
I allowed it to keep 3 stars because the story really was very good. Rhen is an extremely sympathetic character, and the development of the relationship between Emery and Rhen was well plotted. The world the story was set in ( the Zone) sounded utterly fascinating.
Spice level: 🌶🌶🌶🌶🌶 out of 5
July 24, 2026
But Did You Disassociate: yes
Spice: to make you smile and sweat
MMC and MMC
Scientist and Monster(think predator)
Scientist’s POV
HEA
Stand Alone
Anything pull me out of the book:
nope
Extra smiles:
protective
That tongue!
Creative anatomy
Claiming
A scientist goes with a group to explore a forest (on Earth) that for some reason is becoming all alieny. But lucky for us he gets separated from the group and finds himself shacking up with an unknown being. Who he gets to know intimately… repeatedly… as the being/monster/preditor woos him and spoils him and touches him in the best ways. And on top of that they have a fated mate thing going on. It’s hot and the descriptions of the forest sounds pretty and the predator is swoon. Thumbs up all around.
Spice: to make you smile and sweat
MMC and MMC
Scientist and Monster(think predator)
Scientist’s POV
HEA
Stand Alone
Anything pull me out of the book:
nope
Extra smiles:
protective
That tongue!
Creative anatomy
Claiming
A scientist goes with a group to explore a forest (on Earth) that for some reason is becoming all alieny. But lucky for us he gets separated from the group and finds himself shacking up with an unknown being. Who he gets to know intimately… repeatedly… as the being/monster/preditor woos him and spoils him and touches him in the best ways. And on top of that they have a fated mate thing going on. It’s hot and the descriptions of the forest sounds pretty and the predator is swoon. Thumbs up all around.
August 8, 2026
Obvi AI generated, needed an editor, ignore the cover
Obvi AI generated with a pen name. The cover is misleading since there's no scene like that in the book. You can tell the book was produced by one of those book mills that churn out AI books a dozen a week.
The writing structure, absurd metaphors and similes, too early reveal of the monster’s name (Rhen), and repetition was frustrating. However the story was good, the monster was a cool AF and a good Alpha/King of the jungle. Emery is the human MC, a conservation biologist, and it was cool that his job duties were covered in a way that felt believable. The smut was good but quickly became repetitive. The book could have been trimmed by 3-4 chapters and desperately needed human editing. I'd give this a 2.5....
Obvi AI generated with a pen name. The cover is misleading since there's no scene like that in the book. You can tell the book was produced by one of those book mills that churn out AI books a dozen a week.
The writing structure, absurd metaphors and similes, too early reveal of the monster’s name (Rhen), and repetition was frustrating. However the story was good, the monster was a cool AF and a good Alpha/King of the jungle. Emery is the human MC, a conservation biologist, and it was cool that his job duties were covered in a way that felt believable. The smut was good but quickly became repetitive. The book could have been trimmed by 3-4 chapters and desperately needed human editing. I'd give this a 2.5....
May 7, 2026
An Unreal story
I read usually hundreds of books a year. This book was insane.
The way it was written, the feelings evoked by the writing, the journey their relationship took. OMG. I have not been so hooked on a book in years.
I am literally going to go buy the ebook and see if there is a paperback because this book just became a permanent fixture in my life.
If you like MM and aliens you need to read this. You will not regret it.
And now everything in me is hoping there will be a second book 😂
I read usually hundreds of books a year. This book was insane.
The way it was written, the feelings evoked by the writing, the journey their relationship took. OMG. I have not been so hooked on a book in years.
I am literally going to go buy the ebook and see if there is a paperback because this book just became a permanent fixture in my life.
If you like MM and aliens you need to read this. You will not regret it.
And now everything in me is hoping there will be a second book 😂
August 17, 2026
Probably Gen AI.
I like the idea behind the story but can’t in good conscience rate this higher because I’m pretty sure that gen AI was heavily used in this. There are too many timeline inconsistencies. I looked up the author because I was suspicious and they’ve published too many books in too short a time. I can’t be 100% positive which is why I’ve rated it 2 stars but I won’t be reading anything else by this author. This kind of behavior is so disheartening because it’s only hurting real indie authors. I’m going to have to start researching authors before reading books which is annoying.
I like the idea behind the story but can’t in good conscience rate this higher because I’m pretty sure that gen AI was heavily used in this. There are too many timeline inconsistencies. I looked up the author because I was suspicious and they’ve published too many books in too short a time. I can’t be 100% positive which is why I’ve rated it 2 stars but I won’t be reading anything else by this author. This kind of behavior is so disheartening because it’s only hurting real indie authors. I’m going to have to start researching authors before reading books which is annoying.
September 15, 2026
MM
🌶️🌶️🌶️
Scientist and Alien?
Emery is on an expedition in a “park” that appeared one day. This place is different. Creatures, plants, air, light is all similar but vastly different than ours on Earth.
One creature catches his scent and when Emery gets separated from his group, takes him to his home. And provides for him. At first he is terrified, kidnapped by a creature. But soon learns he has been preparing for his arrival.
They become intimate. And eventually bond. They feel each other’s feelings, know each other thoughts. When Emery’s group find him, he hides his mate and plans to stay in this world forever.
Honestly, I only read it because of the cover, which doesn’t match the creatures output color at all. I enjoyed it but kept waiting for that scene to play out and it never did 🙄
🌶️🌶️🌶️
Scientist and Alien?
Emery is on an expedition in a “park” that appeared one day. This place is different. Creatures, plants, air, light is all similar but vastly different than ours on Earth.
One creature catches his scent and when Emery gets separated from his group, takes him to his home. And provides for him. At first he is terrified, kidnapped by a creature. But soon learns he has been preparing for his arrival.
They become intimate. And eventually bond. They feel each other’s feelings, know each other thoughts. When Emery’s group find him, he hides his mate and plans to stay in this world forever.
Honestly, I only read it because of the cover, which doesn’t match the creatures output color at all. I enjoyed it but kept waiting for that scene to play out and it never did 🙄
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 9, 2026
Emery and Rhen.
Although this is a love story between a forest monster/creature/alien and a scientist, it’s beautiful (once you look past the fact they don’t speak the same language and he essentially kidnapped Emery, you see the why and the how and it all makes sense).
Emery slowly starts to understand Rhens language and throughout the novel, you see the love between them and the bond they share
The spice - 10/10
Story - 10/10
Characters - 10/10
Although this is a love story between a forest monster/creature/alien and a scientist, it’s beautiful (once you look past the fact they don’t speak the same language and he essentially kidnapped Emery, you see the why and the how and it all makes sense).
Emery slowly starts to understand Rhens language and throughout the novel, you see the love between them and the bond they share
The spice - 10/10
Story - 10/10
Characters - 10/10
September 11, 2026
Solo leí este libro porque se me fue la luz y no tenía nada más que leer.
Obviamente está hecho con IA y para mí sorpresa no fue tan malo como otros que por desgracia he leído. Una historia muy tonta, extraña y floja que puedes leer gratis si no tienes nada más que hacer pero únicamente si estás muy aburrido y tienes morbo de leer como un disque científico biólogo demente se enamora al instante de un monstruo que ni puedes imaginar su aspecto.
Obviamente está hecho con IA y para mí sorpresa no fue tan malo como otros que por desgracia he leído. Una historia muy tonta, extraña y floja que puedes leer gratis si no tienes nada más que hacer pero únicamente si estás muy aburrido y tienes morbo de leer como un disque científico biólogo demente se enamora al instante de un monstruo que ni puedes imaginar su aspecto.
September 28, 2026
Their territory
This book has the bones of a good story. I like the premise of the book, including the characters.
However the book was just repetitive, there were some error or things in the book that just read weird.
I did like how the connection between the two developed over time even without the talking. The repetitiveness and overall progression of the story lead to me having to skip some of the scenes.
This book has the bones of a good story. I like the premise of the book, including the characters.
However the book was just repetitive, there were some error or things in the book that just read weird.
I did like how the connection between the two developed over time even without the talking. The repetitiveness and overall progression of the story lead to me having to skip some of the scenes.
May 13, 2026
Changed from 1 star to 2 stars because the world created was beautiful, and the ideas behind the plot were interesting. The writing just wasn't for me. This desperately needed an editor, so if you can get past the inconsistencies, poor flow, and what reads like AI, it's.... fine. Not the best monster fcker book out there, but also not the worst.
May 24, 2026
If your into Monster smut this is for you. If not move on. Thats all I can say. The main character is a biologist which makes his reaction understandable but I need to make it clear its no realistic nothing about this book is realistic. Is you want a closed off mmc who finds his place amoung nature and a hot mutant monster this is it for you
July 5, 2026
Absolutely amazing!!
My first ever monster romance book, and Sable Locke, you have my heart, from the world building, the detailed description, the beautiful, extraordinary, heartwarming (I don't have enough adjectives to describe it) love between Emery and Rhen, ever single little detail. If I could give this book 1000000 stars I would, absolutely fenomenal.
My first ever monster romance book, and Sable Locke, you have my heart, from the world building, the detailed description, the beautiful, extraordinary, heartwarming (I don't have enough adjectives to describe it) love between Emery and Rhen, ever single little detail. If I could give this book 1000000 stars I would, absolutely fenomenal.
June 17, 2026
4.5 stars rounded up
"Rhen," I say again. And again. And the creature -- Rhen -- makes that joyful, shaking, blazing sound every time, like hearing its name spoken by a human mouth is the most astonishing thing that has happened in its long, solitary, tally-marked life."
"Rhen," I say again. And again. And the creature -- Rhen -- makes that joyful, shaking, blazing sound every time, like hearing its name spoken by a human mouth is the most astonishing thing that has happened in its long, solitary, tally-marked life."
June 18, 2026
A very interesting book that was very clearly inspired by The Shimmer in Annihilation.
Overall, enjoyable though repeated thoughts and concepts too often.
I'd give it a try if you're into monster smut.
Overall, enjoyable though repeated thoughts and concepts too often.
I'd give it a try if you're into monster smut.
June 22, 2026
The idea is great, but not having any direct thoughts, feelings etc., from the monster love interest really took the joy out of reading this for me personally. It's not for me, but I think others will enjoy the story.
June 26, 2026
Interesting 7.8/10
Very interesting story.
Dont expect a lot of dialogue but it was nicely done.
I wonder who the next person is gonna be in the zone, if there's ever gonna be a book 2.
Very interesting story.
Dont expect a lot of dialogue but it was nicely done.
I wonder who the next person is gonna be in the zone, if there's ever gonna be a book 2.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews